Chapter 865: Chapter 2 Shuffle_2 Chapter 865: Chapter 2 Shuffle_2 The brothers were about to extinguish their campfire when a group of riders suddenly appeared from the slope to the north.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

The riders, upon seeing the light, charged straight towards the brothers.

The youth recognized the tall Warhorses, tight-fitting clothes, and the riding posture of the oncoming strangers, knowing that they were not people of his kind.

“[Herde Language] Run!” the youth dragged his brother and bolted.

But two legs could never outrun four, and the brothers were quickly caught up to and surrounded by the riders.

The lead rider removed his kerchief, somewhat puzzled, asked, “Why are you running?”

The youth distinctly felt the weight of his brother suddenly pressing down on him, and in fact, his own legs involuntarily grew weak.

...

For he saw a face that seemed to be etched into his very marrow.

It was the owner of this face that had taken away the soul of Tie Chi Nayen; it was also before this face that the youth had surrendered his weapons and Warhorse–the “wolf” his brother spoke of had arrived.

Winters glanced at the still-stunned Translator.

The Translator hurriedly spurred his horse forward, conveying the words of the Civil Guard Officer to the two Herders.

The young Herder had no reaction, but the one who looked younger suddenly “plonked” to the ground on his knees, spouting off a long string of words.

“What’s this now?” Winters couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle, looking towards the Translator.

After listening for quite a while, the Translator replied with evident embarrassment, “Your Excellency, he says he wants to be your indoor slave, to open doors for you, lead horses, carry swords, serve wine… I didn’t quite catch the rest, probably all similar menial tasks.”

Upon hearing this, Winters really wanted to give the young Herder a whipping.

The willingness to be a slave to power disgusted him in a way he couldn’t articulate, but considering the state of Herder society, he also couldn’t demand too much.

Winters shook his head.

The Translator immediately conveyed the Civil Guard Officer’s stance to the other party and thoughtfully added an explanation, “[Herde Language] The Blood Wolf Chieftain’s tribe doesn’t want slaves, nor do they have any.”

The young Herder was first lost in confusion, but quickly snapped back to reality and eagerly asked a few more questions.

“Your Excellency.” The Translator became even more uncomfortable, “He’s asking if you don’t want slaves, would you want guards? A Coachman?”

“What exactly did you tell him?” Winters lightly flicked the Translator’s back with his whip.

“I didn’t say much,” the Translator scratched his head, “just translated your words as they were.”

Most clerks would involuntarily carry a hint of awe and fear upon first seeing Civil Guard Officer Montaigne.

But the Translator who had come with Winters to Iron Peak County was a “veteran” clerk. Having been by Winters’s side for a long time, the fear gradually faded, replaced by relaxation and a sense of closeness.

Winters dropped the smile and looked at the two Herders, one older and one younger, speaking gravely, “Go home. If you can’t live anymore, come find me, but don’t bring swords next time… Where is the Tie Chi Chieftain now? Please take me to him.”

After the Translator repeated his words in the Herde Language, the young Herder touched his chest in a bow and gestured in a direction.

“He says to follow him,” said the Translator, “He’ll take you to their camp.”

The two Herders led the way, with Winters and his riders following behind.

“Your Excellency, I really don’t understand what these barbarians are thinking.” Mr. Jacob Green, one of the attendants, had witnessed the recent scene, “Previously, they wanted nothing more than to annihilate us, didn’t they? Now they suddenly want to be your slaves? It’s incomprehensible!”

Winters thought for a moment; he had many things he wanted to say, but in the end, he simply replied, “To survive.”

Mr. Jacob Green was keen to continue the conversation, but seeing that the Civil Guard Officer had little interest, he did not pursue the topic further.

The group soon arrived at the encampment of the Tie Chi Tribe.

The sight before them was vastly different from the grim, dark den of barbarians Mr. Green had envisioned.

Since there was no longer a need to fight, the Tie Chi people were all busily trying to find food.

Skins of various animals hung haphazardly on tree branches, feathers from fowl and birds were blown about by the wind. Some Herders were sharpening bone arrowheads, while others carried fishing rods outwards.

At a distance, a bowshot away from the camp, Heinrich hoisted the personal flag of the Blood Wolf.

The atmosphere in the Tie Chi encampment changed abruptly, as Herders outside scrambled to return, while those within the camp wanted to watch but dared not get close.

Winters, with a small troop of riders, waited politely at the entrance of the camp.

The Herders around were gathering in ever greater numbers, and it was then that Jacob Green realized that the surrendering troops were still half an enemy, as he subconsciously reached for the hilt of his sword.

“Sir, why don’t we just go in?” Green whispered.

“Don’t worry,” Winters reassured the accompanying clerks, “we cannot just walk in—we need to maintain Paratu’s authority as much as possible.”

Soon, trumpets sounded from within the camp, and Paratu led a group of Kota and Nayen out of the camp.

Winters dismounted as well, and in the eyes of his tribespeople, Paratu was welcoming the champion from Terdun into the camp with equal stature.

For the victor, this might seem somewhat unfair; had Andre been present, he might even have lost his temper.

Fortunately, Winters never cared for such things. He had already won and had no need to continue humiliating Paratu.

Moreover, what Winters least wanted to see was the complete collapse of the Terdun Tribe.

As soon as they entered the inner tent, both hosts and guests completely dropped their masks.

They had always been enemies, and they still were. Instead of maintaining false etiquette, it was better to cut to the chase.

Paratu gestured to dismiss his chieftains, and Winters nodded to his subordinates to be at ease. Only Winters, Paratu, and their respective translators remained in the large tent.

“[Herde Language] You could strut in here,” Paratu struggled to sit on the couch, “[Herde Language] which shows that the Terdun Tribe is finished.”

Winters sat across Paratu and calmly stated, “Indeed, the Firestarter is dead.”

Paratu sighed heavily.

Winters observed the man—although Paratu shared some responsibility for the Firestarter’s fall, his current sorrow seemed genuine.

Paratu’s demeanor, build, and loud voice often made people overlook his true age, but now he seemed to have suddenly grown white hair and wrinkles, turning into an old man at the end of his life.

The old Herder asked, “[Herde Language] The Firestarter is dead, how do you plan to deal with my people? Slaughter them all?”

“There indeed was such a plan,” Winters replied honestly.

The Translator’s expression stiffened, unsure whether to translate this statement, but Paratu’s Translator had already whispered it in his ear.

“[Herde Language] Have your ambush forces arrived outside?” Paratu scoffed, “[Herde Language] Why not act?”

“After much deliberation, I concluded that it is more beneficial for my interests to keep you and the Terdun Tribe alive,” Winters paused for a moment and then spoke slowly, “Therefore, I will not only let you go, but I will also return your warhorses and weapons to you, along with a hundred carts of food. In addition, I will provide you with the Firestarter’s body.”

The Herder tribes, despite their diverse customs, highly value the act of “[returning the bodies of warriors killed in battle] to their families,” a practice that is rewarded handsomely in any clan.

In certain clans, the one who returns a body can even inherit the deceased’s property and family.

Receiving the Firestarter’s body signifies the right to organize his funeral, which to a certain extent equals the power to distribute his inheritance.

Winters looked directly at Paratu, “I have only one request for you and your tribespeople—return to the Great Wilderness as quickly as possible.”

…

At the same time, “Blue Horse” and “Stone Arrow” returned to the Terdun Tribe’s winter grazing grounds.

The loss caused by the fire to the Terdun people was immeasurable, for they had no ability to extinguish the blaze and had to flee.

Humans could escape on horseback, but what about the livestock? What about the tents?

The livestock that couldn’t be driven away suffocated, and possessions that couldn’t be carried were burnt. The Terdun people, with their remaining belongings, had to migrate once again.

More dangerous than natural disasters—most Terdun people still believed the fire was the wrath of the gods—were the other tribes.

Now more than ever, the Terdun Tribe urgently needed a large army to deter the covetous gazes of other tribes.

But the army had been taken by the Firestarter, and it was unknown when it would return. The chieftains left behind had no choice but to convene a “great meeting” to discuss matters.

Some chieftains firmly wanted to wait for the Firestarter’s return, while others subtly suggested that maybe they could temporarily seek refuge with the Haidong Tribe, the Suz Tribe… or simply go their separate ways.

As the great chieftains argued incessantly at the meeting, Blue Horse and Stone Arrow did their best to bring together every minor chief and leader they could find.

Blue Horse and Stone Arrow brought good news: a large tribe was willing to offer pasture and protection for the small clans of the Terdun Tribe—that tribe’s name was “Red River.”